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Falkland Focus
News from the Falkland Islands Government
Number: 69 - April/May 2000

SUCCESS FOR FALKLAND ISLAND STUDENTS

PAGE 1
Moving Forward, The Joint Statement - Conservation & Fishing Issues - Flights from South America - Entry of Argentine Citizens into the Falkland Islands - Tough Line Taken Against Poachers in Falkland Waters

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MPs Visit the Islands - Education Watch: GCSE Success - Success For Peter Symonds' College, Winchester - The Search for Oil - Royal Visit - The New Chief Executive - Falklands First Solicitor

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Focus on Health & Social Services - Visit by UK Defence Secretary - New Commander of British Forces - Laying Up Of Colours - The Queen Opens Falklands Memorial Chapel - Organically Produced - Destinations 2000 - Diary Dates

MPs Visit the Islands

Five Members of Parliament were invited by the Falkland Islands Government to visit the Islands in early November. The group, consisting of Ian Cawsey (Labour), David Crausby (Labour), Ian Davidson (Labour), Dr Jenny Tonge (Liberal Democrat) and Tony Wright (Labour), also paid a short visit to Ascension Island, on the way to the Islands.

At a public reception the MPs spoke enthusiastically about their impressions of the Islands. Dr Tonge was particularly impressed at the sophistication of the education system and said that the visit had transformed her view of the Islands. Mr Davidson said that public services in the Islands were better than those available in his constituency. He also noted that the relationship between Britain and the Falklands had grown into a partnership and that the Islands (apart from defence) were not dependent in any way on Britain.

Members of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, Bruce George (Labour) - the Chairman, Jimmy Hood (Labour) and Laura Moffat (Labour), visited the Islands in December. They saw the Garrison at Mount Pleasant and met with Councillors and officials in Stanley.

Education Watch: GCSE Success

Over 30 students in the Falkland Islands sat GSCEs this year and achieved remarkable results, even by the high standards of the Falkland Islands. Students gained grades A* - C in 118 examinations and all students gained at least four GCSE graded results.

David Higgins, Headteacher of the Falkland Islands Community School, said: "Yet again our students have shown a high level of commitment and achieved marvellous results as a consequence."

Seven students are planning to undertake further studies overseas, funded by the Falkland Islands Government.

Success For Peter Symonds' College, Winchester

UK national A level tables released at the end of last year revealed that Peter Symonds' College, which has close links with the Falkland Islands Education Department, came fourth in the UK and top in the South.

"We are delighted," said Principal Neil Hopkins, "there is so much hard work put in each year by staff, students and governors. It is good to see that work reflected."

A recent schools' inspection also gave the College a glowing report: "Standards of teaching and learning are high and students' achievements in many subjects are consistently good." Nineteen Falklands students are currently studying for A levels at the College.

The Search for Oil

Data from the six wells drilled in the North Falkland Basin during 1998 has been collected and analysed by the British Geological Survey (BGS) during 1999. Although none of the wells found commercially viable accumulations of oil, five of the six did find minor quantities of oil, and several also had evidence of gas: one of the wells even flowed live oil to surface.

The drilling data has revealed the presence of a rich organic source rock, the necessary prerequisite for any oil to be formed in the area. Recent calculations by BGS and Shell indicate that this organic-rich source rock has probably formed up to 60 billion barrels of oil within the North Falkland Basin.

Although large accumulations of oil were not found by the first six wells, BGS suggests that this is because all the wells targeted potential oil fields above the source rock, whereas new geological modelling suggests that it would be better to look beneath the source rock.

Further exploratory drilling will be necessary to prove the hypothesis that there is oil trapped beneath the organic-rich source rock. The current licensees are attempting to raise the necessary funds to enable this drilling to take place, and are actively searching for new oil company partners to provide extra money to allow such drilling to occur.

Royal Visit

HRH Princess Alexandra, Patron of the United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust and the Shackleton Scholarship Fund, visited the Islands from 1 to 5 February.

The Princess' busy programme encompassed many aspects of the Islands, including the work of the Trust. HRH toured East and West Falkland and, in brilliant sunshine, visited Sea Lion Island and saw some of the magnificent wildlife that the Islands are home to. At the end of her visit, the Princess declared her trip "magical" and expressed her wish to return.

The UK Falkland Islands Trust, established in 1981, supports the Islands agricultural, education and civil sectors, while the Shackleton Scholarship Fund, set up in 1995, aims to increase the knowledge of the region and promote academic and quality of life exchanges.

Introducing Dr Michael Blanch: The New Chief Executive

Dr Michael Blanch arrived in the Falkland Islands in January to take up his post as Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands Government. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of the London Borough of Bromley for five years.

Dr Blanch spoke to Falklands Focus about his initial impressions of the Islands and his challenging role.

What are your impressions now you have taken up your post? I have only been in the job for three months so I'm still on a steep learning curve but my wife, Penny, and I feel at home already. The Islands are absolutely beautiful and the people could not have been more welcoming, plus the weather has been fantastic!

How do you see your role? I believe the role of any Chief Executive is to act as leader of the Civil Service and provide sound policy advice to the elected members and the Governor.

Do you think the role has changed from that of your predecessor? No, I don't think the role has changed but as the Islands democracy has matured, so the context of the work has changed. What are your main priorities over the next three years? Well, my first priority is the 'modernisation' of the Civil Service. I would like to see an improvement in our service delivery so it is a more efficient and customer-centred organisation. Secondly, I want to assist the Councillors in paving the way for constitutional change so we can achieve greater accountability and a more open system of government. Finally, we must work with business to diversify the economy and market our uniqueness so that the Islands can enjoy a sustainable and prosperous future.

(NB. Falkland Islanders enjoy internal self government as an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. Under the Constitution, eight Councillors are elected every four years to the Legislative Council.)

Do you think these goals are achievable? Yes definitely. The key to success lies in us working together, myself and colleagues in the Civil Service, elected Councillors, the Governor and local people, towards agreed goals and with unbounded optimism - something we have plenty of!

Falklands First Solicitor - Ros Cheek

Ros Cheek, 26, is the first Falkland Islander to qualify as a solicitor and return to practice in the Islands. Ros has held the post of Crown Counsel in the Attorney General's Chambers since the start of this year.

"I have always intended to return to the Islands," said Ros. "The Falklands are my home and having spent the vast majority of the last ten years in England in furtherance of my education, I have not found anything outside the Islands that could entice me to settle elsewhere." After completing her law degree at Newcastle University, Ros returned to the Islands for a year to work in the Attorney General's Chambers, after which she completed her legal studies at Guildford College of Law. Articles followed at Andrew M Jackson & Co in Hull where Ros chose to work in the Shipping Department to prepare her for work in the Islands.

"It is probably too early to describe a typical day, but the work is varied and I have been able to use my maritime knowledge already. I am confident that the Islands offer me a challenging future and also a quality of life which I believe is unparalleled."